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Animal Hair Brushes????

StratMan

StratMan

Member
good morning P&C community..

One aspect in DE shaving I have limited experience in, is brushes. Have never used anything but a synthetic brush. My experiences with the synths, especially the Yaqi Mysterious Space, has been nothing but positive. I love using this brush, but without any experience with animal hair brushes, i am in no position to judge and cannot help but feel that I may be missing out on something. Does it produce a better lather? Does if feel different on the face while lathering? Does it give a better overall experience? or is it just hype?

The only thing i really understand about animal hair brushes is that they take time to break in, need to be prepped before use and they take longer to dry. There are so many choices to make!!! Badger, Boar or Horse? and within these main groupings there are so many more options.

I like to face lather and am considering a boar brush, mainly because I can get a good one for a decent price and they have more backbone, but i am open to all suggestions. If i do go for a boar i would prefer to keep the hairs to remain natural but no deal breaker i.e. not painted to look like a badger.

  • How do they differ from synthetics?
  • Which animal should i go for?
  • Does an animal brush provide better lather? better face feel? better overall experience?
  • How long do these take to break in, and once broken in how much does their characteristics change? ie do they get floppier/softer
  • Which boar brush? Omega or Semogue?
  • Regarding Semogue, which model should i go for? heard good things about the 610/810 and the 2000?
  • The SOC seems to be the 'deluxe' of the Semogue range with a longer break in period.. is it too big for face lathering? lather hog extraordinaire?

I was hoping you guys with experience with these brushes chime in and help me chose my first animal brush. Cheers
 
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'Better' is always going to be very subjective.

Probably the first easy decision is don't try horse brush first, wouldn't really matter but my advice would be leave til last.

I'd point you to the Omega 10083 boar first up. Not necessarily the best boar brush out there but a very good representative and a very reliable performer. The 10083 will acquaint you with boar characteristics, serve you a long time for very little outlay.

Then I would try a badger brush after that but I think the badger rabbit hole is harder to negotiate then the boar. There are different grades, loft heights and knot designs (bulb and fan) which all contribute to different experiences. I think others will advise you better than me what might be a good brush to try first but I would start with a 24mm knot with just a medium grade badger hair so it's not too exy and go from there. Check out this from The Stray Whisker https://www.thestraywhisker.com.au/shavemac-167-silver-tip-badger-24mm/ , very good price on special. You could start with something at half the price but the Shavemac would be a safe investment.

Why do this exercise? Because you can. I choose not to use synthetics because I presume I would agree with others that say synthetics seem to lack the life and individual character of animal hair brushes. To me animal brushes are more authentic. With synthetics I'd feel like I was shopping for a paint brush. Having said that I also acknowledge if I did purchase a synthetic I'd probably agree they lather quicker, easier, more reliably etc..... but I just don't want to go there.

I enjoy my boar, badger, horse, badger/horse, boar/badger brushes for the varied experience and performance they provide. There's not one brush I regret purchasing and because of the various experiences they provide I'm better able to appreciate the characteristics of my favourite brushes. That experience also enables me to make more educated choices and precise specification with future brush purchases. It's a bit like drinking wine. How do you get good at discerning the differences.......by drinking lots of wine.:)

I think too much is made of 'breaking in'. Yes animal brushes change characteristics with use but that's just part of the experience. Some changes of course may lead to disappointment but usually not. For example the knot of my Semogue 1305 boar brush (a very popular boar brush) has splayed more than I thought it would so it hasn't quite got the backbone it used to have. I still love it though and it still performs well for me. So then I enjoy pulling out the Semogue owners club boar which has more backbone and has maintained its shape better so is more precise on the face. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ This is one of those places where YMMV is pulled out. I hate that term as we avoid stating our preferences and smooth everything over with it. Maybe it's too PC.

Have fun.
 
Like everyone else, you will find the price for great badger brushes ridiculous, will try boar and horse, get back to synths, will one day be curious enough to fork out the money and then will ask yourself, why you spent so many months/years wasting your time ;)

So: if you want to skip those steps and get right to it, I can offer some options:

Option 1: get first a Maseto brush, to get a feel what it is about. They are really nice, the handles are solid. Definitely punching above their weight. They are of course not a high end brush, but you get an idea what people love about them. Then you can go for a high end one...like a Paladin.

Option 2: get a Paladin straight away - just look for the handle you like and get one, doesn't matter which knot - they are all just brilliant. There are now always some in stock and there are also regular drops at least once a month.

Option 3: wait for our charity auctions at the end of this month - there will be at least 2 great badger brushes available...but of course they are going to cost you - it is for a great cause though (y)(y)(y)

If you need to try boar and horse first:

Don't get a Semogue, they are just floppy, if you want to try a boar, either get a large Omega or better a large Zenith with a metal handle (I haven' tried the Zenith personally, but know from good authority they are probably the best boar brushes out there).

If you want to try a horse, get an Epsilon White hair...

As a disclaimer: I have tried all brushes mentioned above, except Zeniths. I am a Paladin fan boy and I didn't listen either and wasted precious badger months and years on boar/horse/synth :D
 
alfredus said:
Option 2: get a Paladin straight away - just look for the handle you like and get one, doesn't matter which knot - they are all just brilliant. There are now always some in stock and there are also regular drops at least once a month.
Click to expand...
I went this option not that long ago.
Well my first ever brush was a Trumper SB4 from mensbiz which was crappy (IMO).
The Paladin is head and shoulders above that one, and very cool in my den.

Cut through to the end gig @StratMan. Why get a Yamaha guitar when there is a Fender available??
 
@nav1 under $60 for a boar brush

@Pbgoose thanks for that thorough input, i will look into those two brushes you mentioned and def take the general advice on board. This is why i thought i better find out for myself and get some. I want to feel the difference on my own face and at least then i can make a judgement. regardless it will be fun finding out

@alfredus cheers for the info mate. I do consider you very knowledgeable on these matters and may well be lamenting wasting time but for that sort of money i would like to dip my feet into the badger water before making such an invested commitment so i went ahead and bought this for myself..

YAQI Quasar 24mm Silvertip Badger Knot Shaving Brush

I have read good things about the Yaqi Silvertip badger brush, and do understand it wont come anywhere near a paladin but at least i am hoping it is a decent enough brush to get a feel for badger.. If i too end up becoming a fan boy then yes i will go and buy a paladin

In regards to the boar.. i think i will end up with an Omega, its just a matter of which one.. need to look into this further..

@tim33z i get your analogy BUT yamaha actually produce very impressive guitars, they punch way above its weight in sound and build quality... but i understand what you are saying :) if i do end up loving badgers more than boar i will get that paladin
 
StratMan said:
@tim33z i get your analogy BUT yamaha actually produce very impressive guitars, they punch way above its weight in sound and build quality... but i understand what you are saying :) if i do end up loving badgers more than boar i will get that paladin
Click to expand...
Hmm i googled cheap guitar brands and they came up lol.
 
StratMan said:
@nav1 under $60 for a boar brush

@Pbgoose thanks for that thorough input, i will look into those two brushes you mentioned and def take the general advice on board. This is why i thought i better find out for myself and get some. I want to feel the difference on my own face and at least then i can make a judgement. regardless it will be fun finding out

@alfredus cheers for the info mate. I do consider you very knowledgeable on these matters and may well be lamenting wasting time but for that sort of money i would like to dip my feet into the badger water before making such an invested commitment so i went ahead and bought this for myself..

YAQI Quasar 24mm Silvertip Badger Knot Shaving Brush

I have read good things about the Yaqi Silvertip badger brush, and do understand it wont come anywhere near a paladin but at least i am hoping it is a decent enough brush to get a feel for badger.. If i too end up becoming a fan boy then yes i will go and buy a paladin

In regards to the boar.. i think i will end up with an Omega, its just a matter of which one.. need to look into this further..

@tim33z i get your analogy BUT yamaha actually produce very impressive guitars, they punch way above its weight in sound and build quality... but i understand what you are saying :) if i do end up loving badgers more than boar i will get that paladin
Click to expand...

I've been umming and ahhing over that brush for a while now. Let me know how you find it.

Also I have to agree on the Yamaha guitars, I own an $800 nylon string (from my classical days) that punches well above it's weight. (Seems bombproof too)
 
@Ckoerntjes will def let you know.. really looking forward to these new experiences in shaving

and yeah i speak from experience when talking bout the yammy.. i have the six string LL16 model, absolutely gorgeous and plays/sounds amazing. I had a pro-guitarist mate come around and pick it it, the guitar literally blew his mind, he knew they were amazing value for money but it had been that long since he picked one it, totally forgot.. build quality could of improved also




anyway.. back to the topic at hand.. i did it, pulled the trigger on a OMEGA PURE BRISTLE SHAVING BRUSH 11137 with ashwood handle :)

Ash Wood
Total Height: 113 mm
Loft: 55 mm
Knot: 26mm
Handle Height: 58mm

11137-480x480-500x500.jpg



and here is a pic of the Yaqi Silvertip badger

YAQI-Quasar-24mm-Silvertip-Badger-Knot-Shaving-Brush-R151017-1_623x@2x.jpg




now I have covered both badger and boar bases.. will visit horse at some point

any suggestions as to how to best break these in (apart from the obvious) quickly?
 
:( :( :(

I am personally not a fan of standard 3 band badgers...they are often either scritchy or almost soulless like a synth,,,but hey what do I know :D
 
@alfredus your first line sounds exactly like me. i havent pulled the trigger on a good badger brush because i honestly expect to be dissapointed. I find that extra $$$ dont necessarily equal better performance once you get into the top end of things whether razors cars or whatever else my experience has been that you pay either for the brand name/badge prestige or for better fit and finish/aesthetics and the impact on performance is usually minimal.
what i like about synthetics is that they splay AND straighten out again whereas the natural hair brushes lack that spring once they splay they stay that way for the most part and feel dead.. do the better badger brushes work better in that regard? does the grade of hair and sorting really change a brushes characteristics that drastically? can you describe the difference between a maseto or yaqi badger as compared to a paladin or declaration level brush, i have dithered back and forth on buying a paladin so many times its not funny something like a razor and brush library to rent before you buy would make it so much easier. should i just stop procrastinating buy one and stop wasting my shaves on a synthetic?
 
alfredus said:
:(:(:(

I am personally not a fan of standard 3 band badgers...they are often either scritchy or almost soulless like a synth,,,but hey what do I know :D
Click to expand...

Is the yaqi a 3 band? It’s advertised as a silvertip badger

And is a masteo a 3 band? Excuse my ignorance but I have no clue
 
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StratMan said:
good morning P&C community..

One aspect in DE shaving I have limited experience in, is brushes. Have never used anything but a synthetic brush. My experiences with the synths, especially the Yaqi Mysterious Space, has been nothing but positive. I love using this brush, but without any experience with animal hair brushes, i am in no position to judge and cannot help but feel that I may be missing out on something. Does it produce a better lather? Does if feel different on the face while lathering? Does it give a better overall experience? or is it just hype?

The only thing i really understand about animal hair brushes is that they take time to break in, need to be prepped before use and they take longer to dry. There are so many choices to make!!! Badger, Boar or Horse? and within these main groupings there are so many more options.

I like to face lather and am considering a boar brush, mainly because I can get a good one for a decent price and they have more backbone, but i am open to all suggestions. If i do go for a boar i would prefer to keep the hairs to remain natural but no deal breaker i.e. not painted to look like a badger.

  • How do they differ from synthetics?
  • Which animal should i go for?
  • Does an animal brush provide better lather? better face feel? better overall experience?
  • How long do these take to break in, and once broken in how much does their characteristics change? ie do they get floppier/softer
  • Which boar brush? Omega or Semogue?
  • Regarding Semogue, which model should i go for? heard good things about the 610/810 and the 2000?
  • The SOC seems to be the 'deluxe' of the Semogue range with a longer break in period.. is it too big for face lathering? lather hog extraordinaire?

I was hoping you guys with experience with these brushes chime in and help me chose my first animal brush. Cheers
Click to expand...

This is my experience...

I have about 50 synthetic, 20 badger and 7 boar brushes.

I use the boars the least these days. Nothing wrong with them but they just don't hold a luxury factor for me.

Synthetics are pure performance, like an F1 race car.

Badger brushes are pure luxury, like the Maybach.

I really enjoy using my silvertip and two band finest badger brushes the most in terms of enjoyment factor...even though I reach for synthetics more often, not just due to performance but because I have so many of the buggers.

The end result is essentially the same given you dial in whichever type of material you are using.
E.g. A badger brush requires a much heavier load than a synthetic but once you figure it out, the lather will be as good but it'll take longer to generate than a synthetic.

I hated horse hair brushes so I can't really comment further about those.

I should mention I also hated some higher end badger brushes due to the insane density!!

Now...time for a shameless plug:

https://paste-and-cut.com.au/commun...-yaqi-moka-express-26mm-two-band-finest.5573/
 
Great read and deeper into the rabbit hole we all go. Now I need to get another brush.

Natural hair brushes are great. Though they all hog lather and take a while to break in and to learn each of their personalities.

Synthetics are cheaper, dry fast, don't smell, lathering machines, durable, ethical, don't hog lather, colourful, no maintenance and live longer.
Some have soul and others don't.

Now being natural, I love my boars and horse as a face lather. Badgers I find are more of a bowl thing as you'll need to make enough lather for it to be released again.

But you have got to try haven't you. I have and there hasn't been a day where I thought that I needed to spend big on a badger brush. I just don't see the value or advantage in it. If you have the bucks go for it.
 
Hey @RustyBlade indeed a little deeper we go, not too deep at this stage, just a dabble,

I am looking forward to the variety and experience and it it doesn’t turn out at least I can stop wondering about animal hair brushes..

On the other hand if it turns out I love boar the rabbit hole will widen a little but if I love badger it may end up being an expensive hole

Looking forward to finding out :)
 
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